- When image-conscious Mayor Stoner objects to a golden-voiced--but wardrobe-challenged--farmer chosen to represent Mayberry in the upcoming musicale, Andy must find a way to appease all sides.
- Barney prepares for the Ladies League singing contest. The winner gets to represent Mayberry in their musicale. The problem: he can't sing. When farmer Rafe Hollister shows up at the courthouse, it turns out Rafe has an exceptionally good voice. Andy encourages him to go and try out for the competition, which he wins handily. Mayor Stoner and Mrs. Jeffries (the head of the Ladies League) are aghast, however, at Rafe's appearance and want Andy to break the news to him that he can not represent Mayberry at the musicale. Unable to bring himself to do so, Andy decides the only option is to try and make Rafe a bit more presentable.—garykmcd
- The Ladies' League holds their annual singing contest. Barney, under the delusion that he's got singing talent, has been practicing, driving Andy crazy. Rafe Hollister comes by to drop off some string beans and, during an impromptu rendition of "Those Endearing Young Charms" with Barney, Andy realizes that Rafe can really sing. Much to Barney's dismay, Andy suggests that Rafe go over to the town hall and try out. He does and auditioner John Masters is happy to have him represent the town. Unfortunately, the Mayor and Mrs. Jeffries, head of the Ladies' League, don't think Rafe is fit to represent the town due to his rustic appearance. The Mayor insists that Andy tell Rafe he hasn't won the position. Thinking this is grossly unfair, Andy tries and fails to get Rafe to dress up for the occasion and, in the end, decides to let him dress any way he wants. On the stage during the Musicale, Rafe sings a beautiful rendition of "The Lonesome Road" to a happy crowd that doesn't care what he looks like.—J. Roberts <armchairoscars@hotmail.com>
- Barney is singing scales, warming up for the big singing tryouts they have each year in Mayberry. The Ladies' Society of North Carolina comes each year for a convention and always hold a Musicale. Among other entertainments for the evening, they select a representative from Mayberry to perform. Barney has a fine, strong tenor voice, but the problem is he forces it too loudly and nasally, to the point of constantly wavering off-key. Andy hasn't the heart to tell Barney he sounds terrible, but on the other hand the noise jars his nerves. He tries to convince Barney to practice elsewhere on the pretext that Andy's being too noisy for Barney to concentrate. Barney contrarily insists Andy's fine, showing Andy his favorite practicing techniques - a honey-water throat spray mixture. Andy can't resist poking fun at Barney, saying flies might come at him for the honey - swatting a few of the invisible rascals right then and there - but Barney doesn't appreciate the joke and heads out back.
As Andy sits down, Rafe Hollister enters, bringing Andy a large basket of string beans from his harvest per Aunt Bee's request. He is a big friendly fellow and apparently very generous. As Andy sets down the basket, Barney resumes his off-key wailing in the back room. Rafe asks if Barney is sick, but Andy explains he's just singing. Barney comes in with Andy's guitar ready to practice, and suggests some light classic songs he knows - "Tico Tico," "The Umbrella Man" or "Moon of Manakoora." Andy doesn't know any of them, and suggests "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms" instead. Barney doesn't know that one particularly well, but doesn't want to admit it so he starts singing as Andy plays.
Rafe Hollister, listening curiously, realizes Barney remembers the right lyrics but the wrong melody. Trying to help, he interrupts the song and explains this to Barney. Andy agrees and suggests Barney sing with Rafe so Rafe can help him practice. They start again, but Andy plays far too slowly for Barney, who wants to sing it much more upbeat. Unable to figure it out, Barney drops out and lets Rafe carry on without him, and it quickly becomes apparent that Rafe has an absolutely gorgeous voice, and what's more, knows how to use it well.
Andy is impressed with Rafe's singing, but Rafe seems to have little to no idea of how well he just sang. Andy asks Barney why he stopped, and Barney, embarrassed, claims the key was wrong for him. Rafe, having work to do back home, cheerfully tells Barney he enjoyed the sing-along anyway and goes to the door to leave. Andy stops him, asking Rafe if he knows about the annual singing tryouts at the town hall. Rafe does not, and Andy suggests Barney take him with him to the tryouts. Shyly, Rafe says he thinks he can't do that, and Barney agrees, pointing out Rafe as a good singer but not trained, and his lack of musical terminology might be embarrassing if they start grilling him with technical questions; however, Barney slips up, mistaking "a cappella" as a song title and revealing he doesn't know quite as many musical terms as he thinks he does. When he further consigns Rafe to singing only in his bathtub, Rafe decides to give it a shot. Andy can't help but laugh and poke a little fun at Barney's mistake once Rafe has gone, singing "A cappella" to the tune of "La Cucaracha." Once again Barney doesn't appreciate the joke and goes off in a huff.
Later that evening, Barney returns from the competition and tells Andy he feels he did well, as there was what he thought was a touched silence after he finished singing. He begrudgingly admits Rafe did well also, and tells Opie to stop sweeping as the dust will affect his throat. John Masters (who runs both the local hotel and the local choir) comes in after Barney goes to the back room. He is all in aflutter and dying to tell Andy that a winner has been selected who truly has the finest voice in Mayberry. Barney thinks, as there's little other reason for John coming to the courthouse personally to say this, that he is the one John is talking about. He comes out of the back room to confirm this, but before he can say anything, John thanks Andy warmly for sending Rafe over to the singing competition, as Rafe seems to have made it clear he was there on Andy's account. Andy is pleased Rafe actually won and, after John leaves, commiserates with Barney over his loss. Barney takes it philosophically, reasoning that it's because Rafe sings old standby songs while he prefers "Light Classics" from the radio, which were probably too modern for the Mayberry judges and went over their heads (stopping Barney's audition right in the middle of it).
Andy is later called upstairs to see Mayor Stoner, and arrives to find him in a flaming temper as usual, with Mirs. Jeffries, the president of the Ladies' Society, in attendance. She also is apparently enraged about something. Andy asks what the problem is, and the Mayor acidly implies Andy ought to already know. He then demands to know what possessed Andy to have Rafe selected as the singer to represent Mayberry in the Ladies' Society Musicale. Andy corrects the Mayor, telling him the judges selected Rafe fair and square and his only involvement was to let Rafe know where and when the tryouts were just so Rafe could have a little fun. This does not appease the Mayor or Mrs. Jefferies, who proceeds to bash Rafe's poverty, seedy appearance, and unintentionally uncouth mannerisms. The Mayor insists Rafe is unfit to represent all of Mayberry, and Mrs. Jeffries is adamant that a man such as Rafe has no place in her Society's presence, as they are dedicated to the finer things in life. Andy, now losing his own temper over this display of snobbery, reminds them Rafe has already been told he won. The mayor counters by ordering Andy to go out to the Hollister farm at once and break it to Rafe that he will not be needed and will not represent the fair city of Mayberry. Andy is disgusted, but the Mayor refuses to let him protest and dismisses him.
Inside the Hollister kitchen, Mrs. Hollister is making pies as she tells Andy she is all agog that her husband won the singing contest, obviously extremely proud of him. Rafe then comes in, his simple good-humored face all smiles as he excitedly tells Andy he can't believe he got picked and thanks Andy warmly for the suggestion to try out. Andy doesn't have the heart to let the Hollisters down after this, so he merely congratulates Rafe on his win and leaves the Mayor's message out of it.
Mayor Stoner is angry that Andy didn't tell Rafe he's out. The man is seedy! Andy if sure Rafe will dress up for the occasion, at which point the Mayor informs Andy he'll hold Andy personally responsible if Rafe takes the stage and embarrasses the town by his appearance.
Later, Rafe comes into the courthouse to show Andy his "formal' outfit for the occasion, which means a tired jacket over his overalls and a rumpled hat. Andy compliments him, but after Rafe leaves (asked to return in an hour), Andy and Barney confer, knowing the Mayor will go apoplectic if Rafe represents Mayberry looking like that. Andy decides there's only one thing for it and he and Barney go to a clothing store, guessing at Rafe's sizes, to buy him a tuxedo.
An hour later, Rafe returns, and Andy tells him that his department has made a grievous mistake. Rafe has a criminal record for moonshining a while back. He's served his time but Andy failed to give Rafe the customary new suit of clothes to released prisoners - true of larger prisons but up until now never a custom in Mayberry (though Andy withholds that information). He tells Rafe that he and Barney forgot to give Rafe his suit when he left, and feel sorry for it, and Barney (slow on the pick-up) presents Rafe with the new suit to make up for it. He must wear them or Andy will be in trouble.
Over to the concert hall to rehearse, Rafe has his new suit on. Unfortunately he is an extremely heavyset fellow and the lawmen underestimated just HOW heavyset he is. The suit is much too tight for him to breathe right, let alone sing.
Mrs. Hollister arrives to hear the rehearsal, as do Mayor Stoner and Mrs. Jefferies, unannounced. Andy welcomes this, as he thinks he can show off how good Rafe looks whenever he has the proper clothes. Rafe does indeed look very sharp in the new suit, even if it is too tight, and Mrs. Hollister admires him in it. Rafe cheerfully bids the Mayor and Mrs. Jefferies good morning and tells them the suit's the tightest one he's ever worn, but he is unaware of their true opinion of him. Andy tells Rafe to go put up his guitar, and as soon as he is out of sight he asks the Mayor and Mrs. Jefferies their opinion. They both begrudgingly admit he looks nice, but then Mrs. Jefferies says, cattishly and regardless that Mrs. Hollister is in the room, that under no circumstances is Rafe to socialize with anyone after he sings; the Mayor agrees and tells Andy he must see to that. Andy sees the heartbroken look on Mrs. Hollister's face as the two snobs leave. He decides he's had enough of this and gets an idea.
The next day is the musicale, and the time comes for Rafe to perform, the last act for the evening. Mrs. Davis, acting as MC, announces his name and the fact he is this year's representative from Mayberry. To the utter horror of the Mayor and Mrs. Jefferies, Rafe comes onstage wearing his overalls and a dark shirt, without any hat or tie at all - to thunderous applause from the people gathered. Andy comes onstage with him, bearing a guitar to accompany him. The befuddled Mayor attempts to apologize to Mrs. Davis, but Andy clears his throat for silence. Rafe, seeing everyone else sitting down and not knowing the formalities, reckons he'd better set down too and flops down in the chair beside Andy. Mrs. Jefferies and the Mayor look at each other, at a loss for what to do.
Then the magic happens. Andy starts playing "Look Down That Lonesome Road" - a very heartfelt ballad - and Rafe opens his mouth and sings the most moving rendition of that song anyone in Mayberry has ever heard. The audience is spellbound, even the ladies from the society. Mrs. Davis in particular looks as if she might cry. Only Mayor Stoner and Mrs. Jefferies are immune to the spell, their snobbery preventing their seeing past Rafe's simple mannerisms and seedy dress. However, they put on fake smiles and applaud with the rest when Mrs. Davis looks over at them to see what they think of the golden-voiced man onstage.
Once Rafe finishes his song, Mrs. Davis declares him marvelous and then floors Mayor Stoner and Mrs. Jefferies by adding that Rafe's simple dress made the song he chose that much more authentic - it fit the lyrics perfectly. She asks Rafe to sing more for them and Rafe cheerily agrees, this time singing the bouncy and upbeat "New River Train." He starts clapping the beat and the audience eagerly joins in, except the two snobs in the front row - that is, of course, until Mrs. Davis looks over at them. Now they clap as well, putting on fake smiles. Rafe is clearly a huge success with both the audience and the members of the Ladies' Society - just as he is.
The next day, Barney returns to singing scales. Andy, entering the courthouse with Opie, asks him why, and Barney explains he's going to practice early for next year's tryouts so this time he'll be ready - but Andy'd better not send over people on the spur of the moment again and ruin his chances. This time Barney will select songs from the old standbys that Rafe used, particularly "The Crawdad Song," but he has both the lyrics and the tune wrong. Opie, trying to be helpful (and echoing Rafe from days earlier), starts singing the song the right way, and Andy accompanies him. Andy laughs and says Opie ought to have a shot at a singing competition next year, but Barney is not in the mood for a repeat of the previous fiasco - in fact he already has left the building. Andy and Opie happily resume performing "The Crawdad Song," this time singing together while Andy plays.
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